Huntington's message: Slow down.

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

For most Long Islanders, the start of a school year means stocking up on pens, pencils and other office supplies. In Huntington, it also means the return of speed machines.

Since 2004, the town’s eight school districts have strategically positioned the units throughout various school zones and crosswalks, hoping to sway drivers to ease off the gas. Overall, the program has reaped positive reviews, although some question its lasting effects.

“We do notice an improvement in speed reduction when the machines are there, but it’s hard to know if people keep it up or return to their ways once we move the device,” said Beth Izzo, spokesperson for Haborfields Central School District.

Currently, Huntington owns eight Galaxy Series RS-20 units—one for each district—with 12-inch matrix LED characters that display speeds ranging from 5 to 99 miles per hour. The school districts are responsible for daily placement until the end of the school year, at which time the devices are returned to the town for summer storage and maintenance.

At a cost of $2,500 each, the speed machines were proposed by Councilman Mark Cuthbertson after he spotted them in Brookhaven Town school zones several years ago.

“After a few weeks, people get used to them and slow down instinctively,” he said. “Our hope is the machines help drivers to become speed conscious, especially near schools.”

A ninth Galaxy machine is available for temporary use by civic organizations or neighborhood watch programs, Cuthbertson said, if they have a trouble spot to monitor.

He did not pinpoint particular roads or intersections benefiting from the units, however, instead saying the aim is to rotate locations and deter speeding in all areas of a school zone.

South Huntington School District, for example, uses a two-week rotation schedule throughout the district, coordinated by its Grounds Department and school principals.

“Wherever the speed machine is in use, drivers respond to the reminder and they do indeed maintain the posted speed,” stated Steve Bartholomew, district spokesperson.

Bartholomew also admitted, however, that there’s no data proving whether drivers continue to obey posted speeds, or return to their previous habits, once machines are moved.

“It really depends on the person,” Izzo said.